Semi-weekly interior journal. [volume] (Stanford, Ky.) 1881-1905, 1887-02-25
GEORGE O. BARNES
GOD IS IS LOVE And NOTHING ELSE
PRAISE TIE LORD.

New ORLEANS. SO BOURBON At, Feb ii
DEAR INTERIOR: Every day ! am more
impressed with the fact that New Orleans
is not corr sctly known outside her borders
We have been here but week, II ia true,
bu, long enough 10 disabuse ia Of a score Of
unjust prejudices and false preconeeption'
Yesterday we saw with our own eyes how
quietly and obediently whole city full OF
people, who, for the most part, had never
known n sabbath" in our popular, lsrael'
itish sense Of the word, could scquiesce in
an ordinance, that, by single stroke, Alb
rup,ly cut them of from hundred sources
Of what they had for life long esteemed
innocent employ ment and enjoyment. IL
was nothing les, than = revolution 10 these
New Orleans people. But they step into
the new order Of things withouts jar
The theatres, operas and museums go on
a. usual. But the foxes, who have lost
their caudsl sppendages, will not long en-
dure their brethren sporting long brush
10 their very face; and the merchants, de-
frauded Of Sunday gains by the new law
will not bear, permanently, to see the
amuse ment mongers reaps bountilul har
vest OF dollars under their noses Being
now in an enforced msjority, the next Law
will sweep the theatre'; aud then, possibly
New Orleans will become 90 odiousIy dec
orous on Sunday that q reaction will come,
aud "the SOW that was washed will return to
her vallowing In the mire." do hope
not, but l am little afraid that Ia so5ui
the way the devil will work it.
Meanwhile IL 10 beautiful 10 observe how
.msusbls 10 Law IL this city We have ali
esteemed 30 lswless. The main thorough
fare, are nov filled with carpenters and the
din Of hammer and saw along the side
walks rises above the thunder OF the frame
and travel on the stree,s. Every balcony
il being proppsd for Msrdi drss. A lea
ture Of New Orleans streets IL the frequency
of th,ss balconies. You will walk square
after square In principal streets under the's
lofty and impeuetrabis sun and rain shades
that stretch from the store fronts to the
c,rb ,tone. They mus, be delightfully."-
protective 10 the summer heats know
they were splendid In . pouring rain, Ter
have tested them fully 10 day.
Well, these balconies, for which an ordi'
nary row Of pillars suffice 10 bearing up the
strain ordinarily put upon them, must al
be strengthened by numberless props and
Traces, to hold the thronging crowds that
people them, to view the Msrdi Gras pro
cessions. And wherever rows OF seats can
be arranged along the open squares, OF
where the balconies are wanting, there an
stray Of carpenters are to-day, hammering
away most noisiIy. II reminded us OF the
. profuse preparations in San Francisco fol
the reception Of the Grand Army, thai as
sembled in that city last summer.
So we are to leave to day, on the very
threshold Of Msrdi Gras. Why not wait
for it' Becauee we have no time for aight-
seeing And THE IL true, without the least
afectaiton or posturing AZ sanity persons
better than the ordinary, Ii ia simply a
pleasure to turn our backs on New Orleans
lust IA the trains come in crammed with
the sisht.seers. There is no particular
seltdenlal involved in it, for we would inf
nitely rather be a, work than loungiue and
we can not praise the dear LORD too fer
yenlly that His grace has brought us, by
e.sy stases. to that athletic frame that re-
ioices 10 abundant occupation" as one has
40 sply expressed it.
And we thank Him, now that He has,
without any arrangements on our part, 80
ordered our steps that orr gospel has not
been handicapped by needless collision
with the things the world flock innocsntly
or guilty to see. We were sent away from
Philadelphia few days before the opening
Of the Centennial. From San Francisco
few dave before the rally Of the Grand Ar
nv. From New Orleans few days befor'
, Mardi Gras festivities. Time and AGAR
We have in our travels visited fashionable
Syringe, but never, SO far as present recol
lection seryep, In the season. Scotland vi
s,ruck in winter; India in summer: and e.
on. Always the beat time for the gospel
but not for sightseeing. And we hav
learned the bleasedness Of the lesson,
think, 10 its sweetness, sud self'denial,as vel
aslhe tender care OF the dear Father, Leaf III
children -bould be too little diStinguishe
from the world that counts these things a
"heir portion" and 6nd in them thel
"all.n
But what is Mardi Gras? l am not in
sul,ing the intelligence OF my readers VIII
know By answeriug this question for "lh
babe" Ny children, Mardi Gras lierall
mean, Fat Tuesday" 1t precedes Lent